Lenard Foust

Lenard Foust is a performing artist, dance educator, Fulbright Scholar, and doctoral researcher whose work bridges professional performance and higher education. He currently serves as an Instructor and Dance Education Program Coordinator at Central Connecticut State University. Lenard earned a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Graduate Certificate in World Performance Studies from the University of Michigan. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education from Central Connecticut State University.

Lenard has taught at universities throughout the United States and abroad, including Capital Normal University, Beijing Dance Academy, Shanghai Theatre Academy, the University of Michigan, and Alabama State University, where he served as Assistant Professor of Dance. At the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, he worked closely with BFA Musical Theatre students, teaching Jazz, Hip Hop, and Theatre Dance. His teaching emphasizes versatility, cultural understanding, and preparation for the demands of professional performance careers. Many of his former students have gone on to work on Broadway, national tours, television, and film.

As a versatile performer, Lenard’s movement practice is deeply rooted in African diasporic traditions, combining the energy and storytelling of Hip Hop with the technique, musicality, and theatricality of Jazz. He has worked with acclaimed choreographer JaQuel Knight, served as a movement coach for actor Famke Janssen, and performed in Kanye West’s Donda. His choreography credits include Sheila E.’s performance at the World Games. Represented by Resolute Artists Agency, Lenard continues to pursue professional opportunities in Broadway, commercial dance, television, and film while expanding his work as an educator and choreographer.

Based in New York City, Lenard is also a faculty member at Broadway Dance Center, where he teaches Jazz Funk, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, and Theatre Dance. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Dance Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. His research examines how dance programs in higher education can better align formal training with professional industry expectations. His work focuses particularly on the representation of Jazz, Hip Hop, and African diasporic dance practices within BFA curricula and their relationship to dancers’ professional preparedness.

Lenard’s teaching integrates technical development, artistic expression, and cultural context. He encourages dancers to explore the fluid relationships among personal identity, cultural identity, and movement while developing the versatility required for today’s performance industry. His classes create space for dancers to embody history, challenge creative boundaries, and cultivate confidence in both the studio and onstage. Whether working with beginners, university students, or seasoned professionals, Lenard centers joy, authenticity, cultural awareness, and professional readiness.